Firefighters were called to the two-story house in the 8500 block of Brubaker Drive just before 4 a.m., spokeswoman Jennifer Conley Sexton said.

A police officer was first to arrive and reported thick smoke coming from the front door of the two-story house, she said.

Fire crews were about three minutes late getting to the house because the roads were covered in snow, Conley Sexton said.

Firefighters contained the blaze to the kitchen and had it under control in about 20 minutes. The rest of the house was damaged by smoke, heat and water.

The couple and their children, alerted by smoke detectors, escaped. The Red Cross is helping them find shelter.

The fire caused about $55,000 in damage, Conley Sexton said.

-- Amanda Codispoti